Pulling away off-road

When driving off-road, pulling away on the flat and on slopes without rolling backwards is an essential skill to master. This should become second nature if you’re planning on becoming an accomplished off-road driver as it increases safety and makes success more likely.

Rules of thumb

Avoid the handbrake where practical

Use the foot brake to secure the vehicle

Avoid rolling backwards or coasting

Pulling away in a manual transmission vehicle

Hold the vehicle on the foot brake – this acts on all four wheels and usually has power assistance (unlike the handbrake which tends to operate on the rear wheels only without assistance). If you’re trying to hold the car still on a slippery hill, you’ll need all four wheels secured to reduce the risk of sliding.